Xbox 360 controllers in tanks, virtual combat simulators, and America’s Army game series as recruiting tools. Video Games have been influencing the military in many aspects of combat and recruiting techniques.

War is constantly changing. Technology has opened up new doors in every aspect of combat, as well as the way in which armies prepare for it. The British Ministry of Defence has released a statement that they plan to develop a training simulator that is equal to, if not better, than many of the most up-to-date military video games on the market. The Ministry of Defence’s current virtual training simulation is severely outdated when compared to this year’s current First Person Shooters lineup. They plan to incorporate many of the gameplay mechanics and technologies used in such games as Battlefield 3 and the Call of Duty series. These virtual simulators give trainees the best experience without having to fight any actual battles.

The US Army is also planning to upgrade their current simulators, to use mechanics that many commercial video games have already been using. The US Army this summer proposed a $45 million dollar contract (over a five year period) to develop a “new Flagship First Person Shooter” training simulator. The most interesting part about this proposal is that they are requesting that it has to be more than just strictly a first person shooter. They would like the video game to “provide training and education in subjects such as stability operations, cultural awareness, language, combat lifesaver skills, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) recognition and defeat, and various other skills required for current and future military operations.”

Training with simulators has been a very popular method used in training many of the most modern militaries. Everything from airplanes to tanks to infantry drills will usually have a simulator that trainees need to log hours on before they can test out the real thing. Commercial computer games have "great training value," for the Marine Corps, said retired Gen. James L. Jones. "There is a squad leaders’ course where a squad leader can stand in front of a giant screen and actually run a squad through a particular scenario."

The military has many training simulators that essentially use specialized video games as training content. For instance, tank crews must all train in a virtual tank. The virtual tank is a small room the size of a compartment in a real M1 Abrams tank, where the windows have been replaced by computer screens that display computer generated environments that use the same technology as current video games. As you will see in the video below, these types of simulators save the military substantial amounts of money, as real tanks and airplanes may cost millions and the military cannot afford for them to be damaged because of rookie mistakes. Flight simulators have also been highly influenced by video game technology. The training of aviation pilots can be compared to playing a version of Microsoft’s Flight Simulator in a simulated cockpit, with all the buttons, gauges, and controls you would see in any real airplane.

A controversial issue in today’s current foreign policies is the use of unmanned drone airplanes. Unmanned drone airplanes used in the military are one of the most frightening examples of how video games have influenced the military’s technology. Drones allow foreign wars to be fought from a computer screen in areas within the United States. This means that people are literally killing enemies in Afghanistan within the comforts of a military base on US soil, for instance the Hancock Field in Syracuse, NY. Below is a picture of the Reaper drones’ control room at Hancock Field– which looks eerily close to a flight simulator game you would find at any video arcade.

The Reaper drones control room at Hancock Field in Syracuse, NY

A recent trend in popular First Person Shooters is using military personnel to provide input and testing for the newest video games. The Medal of Honor series has taken the input of many Special Forces personnel to use in creating a more realistic portrayal of the firefights and gameplay mechanics. In the series’ newest installment (Medal of Honor: Warfighter)seven US Navy SEALs were used to help improve the game scenarios and overall feel of the combat. In fact, they have been punished for allegedly disclosing classified information to the Medal of Honor: Warfighter developers.

Sometimes the military can influence the content generated in video games. While Ubisoft was developing Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier, US military veterans and private military contractors were used as consultants. The consultants showcased some of the equipment and weapons soldiers will have access to in the future. Ubisoft was granted access to some of the concept and prototype weapons and equipment, making a futuristic shooting game show more accuracy in its portrayal of the things soldiers will have at their disposal in the near future.

Video games are being increasingly used for recruiting. In 2002, the US Army released its own video game to the public, named America’s Army. This is the first instance of video games being used for political aims, as it serves as a public relations tool to make the US Army more attractive to teenagers and young adults. Chris Morris of CNN Money has stated that "the Army readily admits [America's Army] is a propaganda device."

America’s Army has been a very successful tool for the US Army, but it is not the only instance of using video games as a recruitment tool. The US Army has also been using an “Army Experience Center”, which is basically a large arcade-style video game recruitment center. Located in Philadelphia, the US Army opened the center in 2008 in the Franklin Mills Mall. Although an official statement from the creators of the center state that "the center is an attraction tool. There is no recruiting mission here,” it is hard to imagine no recruiting is going on. Ryan Hansen of Ignited Corporation, who co-created it with the US Army, said that the center “…is more about changing perceptions [about the US Army]."

The $12 million center includes a large gaming area in which Xbox 360s and PCs are networked together to play games like America’s Army and the Call of Duty series. The center also has a Humvee simulator (picture below) where kids can sit in a Humvee and use toy rifles to shoot at enemies on a giant screen in front of them. The Humvee simulation allows kids to interact with some of the equipment and vehicles used by the US Army, giving them a deeper look at what the US Army has to offer.

The Army Experience Center's Humvee simulation

There are many other examples of just how much the video game industry and the military piggyback ideas off each other. Everything from simulated combat to recruitment to even having some of the controls in certain vehicles looking exactly like Xbox 360 controllers, goes to show just how interconnected these two industries really are. Many people joke that one day war will evolve into soldiers fighting exclusively on computer screens. With some aspects of modern warfare already doing this, the future may be closer than you think.

US Soldier uses an Xbox 360 controller to control a bomb clearing robot

“I’ve been playing video games since my fingers started working,” said Zach Arenson, the Event Coordinator at EPX Studios. EPX Studios is a student run organization held at the University of Iowa that started in 2011. They focus on developing different media like video games, animations, websites, product design, robotics, etc. Zach organizes events here on the University of Iowa campus, like tournaments where people can come play their favorite video games to support the organization, as well as charities to give back to the community.

Zach is from Des Moines, Iowa, and he currently attends the University of Iowa. He is a senior who is double majoring in both 3D design and Cinema, and plans to graduate this spring in 2013. His father is the person who sparked his interest in gaming, as he introduced Zach to games like the original Warcraft real-time strategy game, Starcraft, as well as many other games developed by Blizzard Entertainment. Besides the many Blizzard games, Zach regards Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War as his favorite game, as he has “played it more times than [he] can remember.”

He would love to one day work in the gaming industry, especially in the areas of art and visual design in video games. But fundamentally, he is looking to find something that involves “working in 3D design and technology, [because] that is the most important part of [his] job.”

Zach’s interests of 3D design and cinema translate well into the world of gaming. Video games are an evolving industry where massive worlds are designed by artists through volumes of concept art. Cinematic cut scenes and narratives have also been used frequently in games to give awe-inspiring moments and visuals. In the class that this interview is being written for, we have discussed if video games should be considered works of art. “Video games are becoming much more cinematic instead of being just pure game design… Video games are art assets. They are one of the most massive lists of art compilation that exist today,” said Zach. He is currently playing the new game Borderlands 2 and commented on how unbelievably huge the level of art and graphic design the game incorporates. He also believes that “to not consider this game as artwork is absurd.” Zach is very passionate about viewing video games as artworks, and believes that it needs to be made clear to people that making these games is an art in itself.

Zach first heard of EPX Studios in a random conversation with a classmate. He shared a class with the current Vice President of the student group, who sat near him in the classroom. One day the Vice President looked over at Zach and asked if he liked video games. Since he does, the Vice President told him he should join the club. After attending the first meeting, Zach said that “I found out what EPX Studios did and I thought that was pretty awesome.” Pretty soon he was elected the Event Coordinator. “So, I got involved and started working with them and the next thing I knew I was voted the Event Coordinator and doing some pretty big things.”

Currently, EPX Studios are in the final steps of putting together the first installment of a series of game tournaments. This first tournament is called the EPX Arena. “We are going to have five different games being played by casual gamers and a DJ at the event. Essentially, it’s going to be a ‘gamer party,’” said Zach. “We are looking for sponsors… as we are expecting a turnout of like 300 people.” The games that will be played at the event are League of Legends, Super Smash Brothers, Halo: Reach, Marvel vs. Capcom, and a FIFA franchise game. Zach states that these games were picked because they are trying to establish a presence of all the gaming genres at the tournament, so anyone present could find a game they can enjoy. “Hopefully in time we will find more space and more people interested so we can have even more games in the future,” said Zach.

At the end of August, EPX Studios held a tournament for the charitable organization Child’s Play. Child’s Play is an organization whose mission is to “improve the lives of children in hospitals around the world through the kindness and generosity of the video game industry and the power of play.” Zach says that Child’s Play is great because it uses “a way for the kids who are sick to get their minds off the bad stuff that is going on in their lives.” The tournament had the participants playing Super Smash Brothers and League of Legends. From the money they made from this event, EPX was able to purchase video games for the kids who are being helped by the charity at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. “The cool thing about Child’s Play is that you actually get to pick out exactly what you want to give to the kids,” said Zach. “We ended up donating a lot of money to the charity and had a lot of fun.” Valve, a big name video game developer and distributor, has also donated significant amounts of money to the charity in the past.

“[Working at EPX Studios] started off as a random conversation that turned into a larger thing that was pretty great,” said Zach. Not only can he learn about developing different forms of media, but he can apply what he has been studying for the past four years in the organization. And with events like the one held to support the Child’s Play Charity, he can give back to the community and make a difference to someone who is in a tough spot in life.

Today marks the release of the new Battlefield 3 downloadable content Aftermath for PS3 Premium members. Between 4pm and 8pm, PS3 owners get to see the new DLC a week before the Xbox 360 owners (PC date is not officially set yet). The DLC is called Aftermath, because four new maps are going to be available that are in the “aftermath” of earthquakes in Iran.

One of DICE’s newest features is the addition of the crossbow as a weapon, which will add a different element to the game. However, with so many other FPS games already having it, I feel DICE has dropped the ball on making Battlefield 3 having its own unique feel from the other games. Call of Duty: Black Ops, Half-Life 2, and other older games have used it, and to me, it always lost its allure after using it for five minutes. Even with variations in the bolts you can fire, it felt more as a novelty than a useful weapon.

Some info on the crossbow is that it’s designed to look like a heavily altered assault rifle. There are two different variations and four different types of bolts – each having a unique characteristic (for example, explosive tips and proximity scanners). Until I get my hands on one in-game, I can only guess that it will play like all the others in previous FPSs. Hopefully, I am proved wrong.

On the positive side, from viewing the trailer embedded below, these four new maps feature major urban areas in Iran transformed to nothing but rubble and heavily damaged buildings. Another new feature, that I am personally looking forward to experiencing, is the post-earthquake tremors that appear throughout the individual matches. This is the feature that has me sold the most, as I love environments and maps that are ever changing. Adding to the effect of chaos and tremors, the character skins the players now reflect the damage the earthquakes have caused as the soldiers now display bloodied bandages and bruises. I feel like this is a step in the right direction, as this is something that can help to distinguish Battlefield 3 from other FPS’s.

Three new vehicles have been added, the Phoenix, Barsuk and Rhino (until I play it, I don’t know what exactly each do that is different), and as well as a new game mode named “Scavenger”. Scavenger is a mode where you start with a pistol and then scour the map for bigger and badder weapons. Cool idea, just it’s nothing new and could have easily been implemented before the game’s official release last year. HALO has a very similar game mode, which was fun and I am sure it will be fun in Battlefield 3, I just wish there was something more innovative about it. In case you couldn’t tell from my earlier ranting in this article, I like things that are different.

With both the positive and negatives taken into consideration, I truly am looking forward to playing this DLC. I will not pass judgment on this expansion/DLC until I play it, and will update this post when I get that chance.

Guild Wars 2's latest update has been met with polarizing reactions from the gaming community. In the most recent patch, a new endgame dungeon system was created together which included a controversial new armor tier. Although many gamers were happy with the challenge of tackling this new dungeon, many gamers were angry that a new top tier of armor was available. Is more content a good thing?

Normally, more content is always a welcome addition for gamers; however the new armor tier has been met with much outrage on several forum websites. Ever since the game was released, ArenaNet stated on numerous occasions that the “‘Exotic” tier of armor was going to be the highest level and best stat-wise. This new armor tier set directly contradicts the one of the original selling points of the game (not having to continually get new armor). This game was not supposed to be a grind-fest, yet many people feel as if the new armor is a contradiction to everything ArenaNet has said in the past.

Aside from the complaints about the new armor, the rest of the patch has been seen as a great addition. A new area on the map has been opened up (another level 80 zone) which is full of new dynamic events and boss fights. This zone, named The Lost Shores, features two new types of enemies – the Karka and the Reef Drake. The Karka are a crab-looking race that are heavily armored, and the Reef Drake are a powerful group of lizards that use confusion as their main source of damage. The Reef Drake may be trained by Rangers to use as pets. Both are a little more difficult to fight than a normal level 80 enemy.

This new area is rather small compared to other zones, and I was able to see all that it has to offer fairly quickly. Besides fulfilling your monthly achievement of killing 200 Karka, I honestly don’t see much of a reason for people even go to this new area. If this was all that the patch offered in terms of endgame content, I would be very concerned over Guild Wars 2’s future. Fortunately for ArenaNet, this is not the case.

In my opinion, the best part about this update was the addition of a brand new dungeon named Fractals of the Mists. The dungeon uses a new difficulty system that increases in difficulty the more times you complete this level. After personally completing the first 2 difficulty levels, I can assure you that compared to the other level 80 dungeons, Fractals of the Mists is a welcomed new challenge. The rewards you get in this dungeon are used to complete the new armor set, as well as new items specifically made for the dungeon.

I personally think that this a great start to creating a more engaging endgame for Guild Wars 2, but much more still needs to be done. More options in endgame content need to be added on a consistent basis to keep the community interested in this game if it wants to be competitive with other big name MMORPG’s like World of Warcraft or EVE Online. The Lost Shores patch is definitely a step in the right direction.

Fed up with being stuck in one role? Tired of being limited to tanking or healing? Guild Wars 2 by developer ArenaNet has torn down the walls of the classic MMORPG (massive online role-playing game) gaming dynamic and has blended the traditional roles so everyone can do everything. Simply put, every class or ‘profession’ has the ability to do damage, tank, and heal/support in a group.

ArenaNet’s aim with its newest installment in the Guild Warsseries is to make a MMORPG that is refreshing in design and doesn’t punish you for playing casually.

In games like World of Warcraft, Everquest, andother big name MMORPGs, players were forced into what has been called the “Holy Trinity” in order successfully complete the games’ most challenging tasks. Meaning, in order to progress through the games’ most challenging content, the players were forced to have a healer to keep teammates alive, a tank class to keep the rest of the party safe and from taking damage, and a DPS (damage per second) class to dish out all the necessary damage to kill the monsters. In Guild Wars 2, this element is gone as every player is able to perform all these roles with any of the professions they chose. To further emphasize this point, every profession in the game is able to attack targets from a long range or get up in the face of their enemies and whack them with a sword or axe – to equal effect. This versatility and adaptability in play styles is what ArenaNet has been advertising and is the feature that makes the game so fun and refreshing. Skills and weapons can be swapped on the fly, opening up new options for every class – making adapting to the situation that much easier.

When a player first plays the game, they are given a wide range of character customization options that many may find somewhat overwhelming; in a positive way. This much customization has been lacking in other similar game franchises. I personally found it difficult to create a character in under 10 minutes, as the game requires great attention to detail in the creation of the character. The character menu has a great range of depth, and each playable race (you can play as Humans, the very tiny Asura, the giant Norn, the feline Charr, or the plant-like Sylvari) has its own unique customizations options only available to that race. Players are also able to select their own colors for the armor they wear on the fly, adding another level to the already deep character creation process.

As soon as you are finished making your character, you go through a very brief tutorial where the games simplified controls, yet challenging fight mechanics are showcased. At the end of the tutorial, you face a gigantic boss that the other new players on your server fight with you. This experience is only heightened by the game’s stunning graphics and visuals that are miles ahead of the competition. After playing 60+ hours, it seems like ArenaNet has created a game that will rival any current MMORPG out there.